Pinky Swear
7. Pinky Swear
"I want to leave flowers at Dad and Mom's graves before we go."
That was Shia's request to Tori.
They entered the forest, but they couldn't find the flowers in the usual spot. Only after venturing a bit further did they finally find the ones they were looking for. Just as Shia was about to gather them, Tori, who had been following along, spoke up.
"Seren-flowers, right?"
"Seren-flowers?"
"That's the name of those white flowers. They have five... petals, don't they? That's why they're called five-petaled flowers. Though, they usually bloom in places with more moisture..."
"Moisture? There's a river just ahead. If we follow it, there's a waterfall too."
"Oh, a waterfall?"
"...Do you want to go see it?"
"I suppose so. If it's not too far, let's save the flowers for the way back and go to the waterfall for a little break."
"Then Shia will lead the way!"
The waterfall, where few people ever visited, was one of Shia's favorite places. At the suggestion of the change in plans, her tail gave a vigorous wag, and she stepped forward to lead the way with great enthusiasm.
As they approached the waterfall, the river narrowed into several small streams, the vegetation grew denser, and moss clung to decaying logs, spreading like a green carpet.
"Amazing... it's truly an untouched forest."
At the sound of his admiration, Shia, who had effortlessly hopped over a fallen log, stopped and looked back at Tori, who was gazing up at the forest canopy.
"It's almost there."
"Right, okay."
Once she confirmed Tori had started walking again, Shia light-footedly led the way through the forest's uneven terrain.
As the rich scent of the woods began to mix with a chilled, moisture-laden breeze, the view suddenly opened up.
It wasn't a great drop, but it was an elegant waterfall, with several white ribbons of water cascading down a rocky slope. Water flowed even through the gaps in the shrubs clinging to the cliff. Shia circled around the plunge pool and approached the shrubs; regardless of getting wet, she reached out and plucked several red berries growing there. Then, she ran back to Tori, who was looking up at the falls from the edge of the pool.
"Tori! Here, have some. They're delicious!"
"Hm? Ah, Fonberries. I'm sure they're delicious, but... more importantly, aren't you soaking wet? Hold on, let me find something to wipe you off—"
"I don't need anything like that!"
Bluntly cutting Tori off, Shia gave her head a vigorous, rattling shake—and then,
"Wah! Wait... Shi... a..."
A fragmented voice reached her from the front, and she froze.
(—Ah! Oh no...!)
Her mother had warned her about this many times; she had told her she must. Never. Do. This.
Slowly, she looked up. As expected, Tori was standing there with a stunned expression, drenched in the spray that had flown off Shia.
"...I-I'm sorry..."
Her ears drooped limply as she apologized immediately, but Tori looked down, his shoulders trembling.
".........Pfft..."
"Pfft?"
"...Puhaha, ha, hahahaha!"
"T-Tori...?"
Startled by the sudden laughter, Shia's ears snapped upright. Before her, Tori looked up and rubbed the corners of his eyes, managing to stifle his laughter, though he wore a slightly reproachful look.
"I told you to wait..."
"I'm sorry..."
"...Hehe, it's fine. It just reminded me of a dog I used to have a long time ago."
"...A dog..."
There probably wasn't any deep meaning behind it, but Shia felt a vaguely complex emotion. Just then, a towel was draped over her head with the words, "I was too late," and a voice telling her to dry herself off well.
"Even if it's not the cold season, you'll chill your body if you stay wet."
"What about Tori?"
"I'm not that wet, so I'm fine. ...Oh, come to think of it, what was that this morning when you grabbed my hand and said, 'It's not cold'?"
"This morning? .........Ah!"
That was when she had checked because she found it strange that she couldn't detect the scent that living people are supposed to have from Tori.
She hadn't thought much of it, but it was the same even now. While scrubbing her head with the towel, she told him just as it was, adding one more thing.
"But I felt a pulse in Tori's wrist, and your body was warm, so I thought it was weird."
".........I see."
Tori's voice, heard from beneath the towel, was startlingly low, and Shia hurriedly poked her face out.
"...Tori?"
"Hm?"
"..."
He looked normal. Tori looked down at Shia with his eyes narrowed softly. However, nonetheless.
Shia was very sensitive to emotions.
Sensing a tiny, minute discrepancy from Tori, Shia drooped her ears and tail, wondering what to do.
( ...What should I do? )
She must have said something that offended him. But she didn't want Tori to grow tired of her.
She didn't want to be left behind. She wanted to be with him. She didn't want to be hated.
( Then what should I do? )
Thinking desperately amidst her swirling thoughts, she suddenly remembered.
"—Um, Tori, listen! There are white, glowing stones at the top of this waterfall. Shia doesn't know what they are, but they seem to be something amazing, so Shia's going to go get some!"
"Eh? Ah, wait, Shia!?"
Pushing the towel back onto Tori to stop him from calling out, Shia ran toward the waterfall and scrambled up its side.
To keep from being abandoned, she just had to show that she could be useful. Since that man, Marnau, had stolen them, the stones must be valuable.
( If I give them to Tori, he'll surely be happy! )
Having reached that conclusion, Shia arrived at the spot where she usually picked up stones, but not a single stone remained where they should have been scattered; instead, the area was covered in footprints as if it had been trampled. The reason was immediately clear. She regretted once again having told Marnau the location.
Still, she searched the inside of the cave just in case, but all she found were a few fragments no larger than a thumbnail. As Shia stepped out of the cave, her shoulders slumped, Tori, who had chased after her, approached her with a panicked look.
"Shia! Oh, thank goodness... you're here. —Now, what was that all about, so suddenly?"
The previous atmosphere had vanished, and Tori now showed a look of relief and bewilderment. Shia opened her hand.
"Hm? ...Ah, a stone... This is a light-gathering stone. But why?"
"I thought I'd give it to Tori..."
"...To me?"
With her ears and tail lowered, Shia gave a small, upward-looking nod.
"Tori was in a bad mood because of Shia earlier."
"Eh?"
"But this is all there is. I think that Marnau person took the rest."
"Eh, eh?"
"There's only this much, but... will Tori not leave Shia behind because of this?"
"Eh... n-no, wait, wait."
Tori covered his eyes with one hand and opened the other to ask her to stop, so Shia fell silent for a moment.
"...Um, as for me being in a bad mood, you're probably talking about earlier, but that's a misunderstanding."
"A misunderstanding...?"
"I was just a little surprised."
"......Surprised...?"
"Yes, well, never mind that. Now, why did Marnau's name come up? He's the one who said you hurt him yesterday, right?"
"...He said he wanted the stones Shia found, so I told him. Otherwise, he said he'd take them from the two graves."
"...Ah, ...I see..."
Tori's voice turned low again, and Shia flinched.
This time, he was clearly angry.
And he had said he was just surprised earlier, but was that really it? Still, she couldn't sense any lies in his voice.
The hand covering his eyes moved, and Tori's pale grey eyes looked at Shia—then, the corners of his brows drooped.
"...You really are sensitive to emotions, aren't you. But my current bad mood isn't directed at Shia. Besides, I won't leave you behind. I promise."
"......A promise..."
"Yes, a promise."
Tori nodded deeply. But Shia knew.
"Promises aren't kept. Because Mom said she wouldn't go anywhere, but she died."
That was why Shia was all alone.
"That's—" Tori began, knitting his brows.
"...Yes, that can't be helped. That is the way of the world. Everyone passes away sooner or later."
"Tori too?"
".........Shia too. Everyone does as they grow old."
"......"
Shia understood the word "lifespan" perfectly. Her mother had taught her when her father passed away. But even so—she couldn't help but feel it.
Seeing Shia's shoulders slump, Tori spoke, raising the tone of his voice slightly.
"—Alright, let's do this."
Tori crouched down in front of Shia and held up his pinky finger, taking Shia's similarly raised pinky and interlocking the two.
"......?"
"It's called a pinky swear."
"A pinky swear?"
"Yes. It's a ritual from the country I'm from used when making a promise... or rather, something like a charm. However, if you break the promise, you'll be hit ten thousand times and forced to swallow a thousand needles."
"Eh!"
Seeing Shia's ears snap back in surprise, Tori gave a small laugh.
"Well, that's just a way of threatening someone. To make sure they don't break the promise."
"Sh... Shia will definitely never break it!"
"Yes, ...hehe, well then: 'Pinky swear, pinky swear, if you lie, you'll swallow a thousand needles'—and, there, you can let go of my finger now."
"Let... go?"
"Yes."
Shia tentatively released her pinky. Naturally, nothing happened, but as she let out a small sigh of relief, Tori spoke.
"With this, the promise is established. I will not leave you behind."
"Ah... yeah... ...But, um, does Shia need a promise too?"
As it stood, only Tori would bear the penalty, which wasn't fair. She spoke because she thought so, but Tori laughed and shook his head.
"I don't need one."
"But!"
"Then, perhaps, that Shia will become even more energetic and continue to expand her own world."
"......Shia is energetic!"
"Then it's perfect. Now, the sun is beginning to set, so let's pick the flowers and head back."
Saying so, Tori stood up with a grunt.
She felt as if she had been vaguely brushed off, but if Tori said it was fine, Shia had nothing more to say.
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